Whitehaven beat Ravenwood to advance to its second 6A state title game in the last three years
Khari Thompson, The Commercial Appeal

Ravenwood was up two scores at halftime but ran out of gas at the end, falling 43-24 to Whitehaven on the road. The Raptors game up 33 unanswered points in the second half.

"We're an undersized team going up against a bunch of SEC and Big Ten commits, it was one of those things where our guys laid it all on the line but at the end were physically exhausted, mentally exhausted from the season, and the grind," Ravenwood coach Matt Daniels said. "We just didn't have enough left in the tank to have a counter punch."

Oakland's Joseph Anderson (7) celebrates beating Maryville 38-0 at Oakland in Murfreesboro, on Friday, Aug. 23 2018, during the 6A playoffs, and advancing to the State Tournament next Thrusday. HELEN COMER/DNJ

Meigs County’s Aaron Swafford (19) tries to get past the goal line but is ruled out of bounds before the line during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Trousdale County’s Alex Ford (10) tries to go after a pass which ends up intercepted by Trousdale County’s Jay’dynn Hayward (30), not pictured, during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Meigs County’s Aaron Swafford (19) is dragged down during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Meigs County’s Jon Jon Beeler (23) tries to catch a pass but it is broken up by Trousdale County’s Ben Chumley (11) during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Trousdale County’s Dyson Satterfield (21) gets a hug from his mom Kelly Woodmore after Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Meigs County’s Aaron Swafford (19) looks at a fumbled snap during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Trousdale County’s Jayden Hicks (6) is brought down during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Trousdale County’s Alex Ford (10) tries to go after a pass which ends up intercepted by Trousdale County’s Jay’dynn Hayward (30), not pictured, during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Trousdale County’s Keyvont Baines (8) makes it into the endzone during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Trousdale County’s Keyvont Baines (8) tries to dodge a tackle during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Trousdale County’s Kane Burnley (25) motions for a first down during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Oakland's Kain Williams (75) tosses Woodi Washington (5) in the air to celebrate a touchdown that was later called back during the game against Maryville at Oakland in Murfreesboro, on Friday, Nov. 23 2018, during the 6A playoffs. HELEN COMER/DNJ

Trousdale County’s Tarvaris Claiborne (7) catches a pass for a touchdown during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Trousdale County’s Keyvont Baines (8) runs for a touchdown during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Meigs County’s Aaron Swafford (19) falls into the endzone for a touchdown during Trousdale County’s game against Meigs County at Jim Satterfield Stadium in Hartsville on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Mike Clark / For The Tennessean

Ravenwood Raptors quarterback Brian Garcia (4) runs out of bounds against Whitehaven Tigers defenders during the first half of an high school playoff football game, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Ariel Cobbert, The Commercial Appeal

Ravenwood Raptors quarterback Brian Garcia (4) hands off to running back William Baine (8), during the first half of a high school playoff football game, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Ariel Cobbert, The Commercial Appeal

Ravenwood Raptors running back William Baine (8), signals touchdown after diving in the end zone during the first half of a high school playoff football game, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Ariel Cobbert, The Commercial Appeal

Ravenwood Raptors running back Chase Piotrowski (5), breaks away from Whitehaven Tigers defenders during the first half of an high school playoff football game, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Ariel Cobbert, The Commercial Appeal

The Whitehaven Tigers and Ravenwood Raptors play in the 2018 Tennessee High School 6A Football Playoff Brackets Division I Class 6A tournament Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn.
Ariel Cobbert, The Commercial Appeal

Whitehaven Tigers wide receiver Devin Boddie jr. (4) is tackled by Ravenwood Raptors cornerback Garrett Moorman (31) during the first half of a playoff football game in Memphis Tenn. Ariel Cobbert, The Commercial Appeal

Oakland's Ronnie Rankins (22) celebrates beating Maryville 38-0 at Oakland in Murfreesboro, on Friday, Aug. 23 2018, during the 6A playoffs, and advancing to the State Tournament next Thrusday. HELEN COMER/DNJ

Oakland's Woodi Washington (5) celebrates beating Maryville 38-0 at Oakland in Murfreesboro, on Friday, Aug. 23 2018, during the 6A playoffs and advancing to the State Tournament next week. HELEN COMER/DNJ

Oakland players celebrate with the fans late in the 4th quarter when it is clear they will beat Maryville, on Friday, Aug. 23 2018, during the 6A playoffs and will advance to the state tournament. HELEN COMER/DNJ

Up against SEC and Big 10 commits

Whitehaven (11-3) has four of the top-30 prospects in the state in receiver Keveon Mullins (South Carolina commitment), lineman Melvin McBride (Tennessee commitment), tight-end Cormontae Hamilton (Ohio State commitment), and receiver Devin Boddie (Vanderbilt commitment) according to the 247Sports 2019 Tennessee rankings. Junior linebackers Bryson Eason and Martavious French are also ranked at No. 9 and No. 11 respectively in the 2020 rankings.

Ravenwood (10-3) raced out to a 17-0 first-half lead on touchdowns from Will Baine and Anthony Holmes. The Raptors also punched in a touchdown with about a minute to go in the half. The score at halftime was 24-10 in favor of Ravenwood.

"I think we caught them off-guard. I think they were a little surprised to give up 24 points in a half after shutting out Germantown last week," Daniels said. "I don't want to say our guys coasted because we knew we were in for a dogfight in the second half."